Using your eSIM in Japan
What you get with every Japan plan
Where it works
Japan
Networks
Differs by plan. Good to know lists them for each plan.
Hotspot
Allowed
When your plan starts
When you land
Install by
Within 180 days of buying
Questions about Japan eSIMs
Will my eSIM work in Hokkaido?
Hokkaido is part of Japan, so the coverage list on this page is the answer, and it names countries rather than towns.
Nothing we publish promises a bar in the national parks or on the back roads, where any network thins out.
Save your maps offline before a long drive.
Does Google Maps work on the Tokyo subway?
Underground is where any network can drop out, and we do not promise a signal station by station.
Download the offline map of Tokyo before you go down, because line transfers are where people get turned around.
Do I need mobile data to use Suica on my iPhone?
Not to tap through a gate.
You do need a connection to add a Suica card to Apple Wallet or to top it up, so set that up on hotel Wi-Fi rather than at the ticket barrier.
Is there mobile signal on the Shinkansen?
The line runs through long tunnels where the signal goes for a minute or two at a time, which is the tunnel rather than a fault with your eSIM.
We cannot promise a bar for any stretch of the route, so download what you want to read before a long leg.
Do I need LINE in Japan?
Not to get around, but it smooths things over.
Small hotels, drivers and tour desks often ask for a LINE ID when you book, and they answer there much quicker than by email.
Can I use my phone to read Japanese menus?
Yes.
Google Translate and Apple Translate both read signs and menus through the camera.
That works over mobile data, and you can download Japanese for offline use before you fly so a dead spot does not stop you ordering.
Questions about every Ryvo plan
Will it work on my phone?
Does it come with a phone number?
No.
Ryvo eSIMs are data only.
There's no phone number, and you can't make calls or send texts on the eSIM itself.
Can I keep my usual number?
Yes.
Keep your main SIM on for calls and texts, and set the eSIM as your mobile data line.
Your carrier's roaming rates still apply to calls and texts, so check them before you go.
Can I share my data as a hotspot?
It depends on the plan.
Each plan says whether hotspot is allowed before you pay.
What if I run out of data?
Add data from your order page if your plan can be topped up.
If it can't, buy another plan for the same destination.
What if my eSIM won't connect?
Email us and we'll work through it with you, starting with your phone's mobile data settings.
If we can't get it working, our refund policy explains what happens next.
Before you go
NTT Docomo, SoftBank, KDDI and Rakuten Mobile are the four Japanese networks, and the list on this page names the ones your plan uses.
Signal still drops in long rail tunnels and in the mountains of Nagano and northern Hokkaido.
LINE is the chat app almost everyone in Japan uses.
Guesthouses, tour operators and even some restaurants would rather message you there than email.
Adding or topping up a Suica or Pasmo card in Apple Wallet needs a connection, which is handy when the machine in the station only takes cash.
Keep your usual SIM switched on for calls and texts, and choose the eSIM for mobile data.
Still need help?
Email us your order reference, and we'll help you get connected.